Minerals Commission revokes 300 small-scale mining licences

The Minerals Commission says Ghana is moving to reclaim real control of its minerals sector—starting with a major cleanup of small-scale mining licenses.

Speaking in Takoradi at the first-ever Mining Local Content Summit 2026, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, questioned whether the country has truly taken charge of its resources more than 70 years after independence.

A key highlight of his address was the revocation of more than 300 small-scale mining licences that were either fraudulently obtained or inactive. 

He said the Commission has, over the past year, shifted from “paperwork” to hands-on enforcement, under the policy direction of Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.

To tighten controls further, he said District Mining Committees have been activated, and no licence will be processed without local input, a step aimed at strengthening transparency and reducing political or foreign interference.

Mr Tandoh warned strongly against “fronting”—where foreign operators allegedly use Ghanaian names to secure licences while retaining control and profits. He described the practice as unethical and linked it directly to galamsey, urging Ghanaians to stop enabling arrangements that weaken local ownership.

He summed it up bluntly: Ghana must move from merely supplying labour to exercising control.

He also announced a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703), including the planned revocation of LI 2462, the regulation that previously opened the door for mining in forest reserves.

To better structure the sector, the Commission plans to introduce a medium-scale mining category—meant for Ghanaian operators who sit between small-scale and large-scale mining and want a pathway to operate responsibly.

In a move likely to affect multinational firms, Mr Tandoh said long-term Development Agreements are being phased out, arguing that some companies have abused them—using Ghana-derived revenues to develop mines elsewhere while failing to meet obligations to host districts.

He said government is proposing a more flexible royalty system designed to ensure Ghanaians benefit more directly when global gold prices rise.

Mr Tandoh framed the full package as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s “Reset Agenda.” He said local content will no longer be treated as routine compliance.

He stressed that serious, compliant investors have nothing to fear and will find government ready to partner for mutual value creation—but warned that operators exploiting loopholes should expect tougher action.

Overall, the reforms are positioned as a pivot from an extraction-heavy model—where profits and technical services often flow abroad—toward value retention, keeping more of the billions spent on equipment, engineering and services inside Ghana’s economy.